These are just some of the totally random calls that keep the players and spectators in a state of bemusement.

Last night Mike Delaney and Gareth Anscombe due to their specific skill set reduced the Highlanders versus Blues match to a penalty shoot-out. The crowd watched on as the Highlanders won a thriller but in all reality it should have been a 30-30 draw as arguably New Zealand’s best goal kicker Gareth Anscombe turned down a shot in front in a last ditched attempt for the Blues to win with time up on the dodgy local clock.

Tonight at the Shark-Tank fans should be warned that they will be abruptly woken from their Super 15 slumber if they have fallen into the trap as last night’s crowd had of cheering the referees whistle and not the play itself.

Be warned the Chiefs can seriously play, they don’t just play territory – but they can, they don’t just wined down the clock with boring forward orientated seal-off’s, that somehow become legal in the last 10 minutes of each half – but they can, they don’t just fall back on their set pieces to dominate or disrupt – but they can.

What they do is play rugby – yes an obvious statement but in this year’s SupeRugby competition a fact that has been seriously missing from most coaches and players approach to the game. Dave Rennie and the world’s best attack coach Wayne Smith have breathed new life into the once flaky Waikato based franchise.

The Chiefs from 1 to 22 play right across the park from all phases of the game – not just as team’s like the Stormers do when they receive turnover ball. Led by a Sonny Bill Williams off-loading ethos that created such a storm last year – the off-load has become a mantra for the Chiefs class of 2012. Tonight forget about Sonny Bill Williams being a threat or Richard Kahui or Lelia Masaga.

Why?

Because the perceived off-loading threat of SBW is just as likely to be evident from Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke or Ben Tameifuna.

Rennie and his back-up team have once again wisely rotated some of the troops. Brilliant young flanker Sam Cane is back in the run on fifteen. The Samoan captain Mahonri Schwalger takes over at hooker to nullify the threat of the returning Bismarck Du Plessis and Asaeli Tikoirotuma starts on the left wing with Jackson Willison coming onto the bench.

Many of the Sharks faithful will arrive at the ground tonight in the hope of seeing players of the ilk of SBW light up Kings Park however, what they may leave with is an appreciation of the attacking prowess of an entire 22 man Chiefs squad.

22 Comments

Maybe not top of the log, but certainly top of the NZ log.

Chiefs v Stormers final is my call.

The Sharks are almost in a must win situation to keep their play-off chances alive, so they will be dangerous……(Screeeeeeech. stop the bus) No they won’t!!! They will be frantic and that will cause panic and that will cause a MAJOR implosion.

I’m sorry but our play-off hopes end tonight. Not because of a lack of quality players but because of a lack of commitment and mental strength.

Why didnt I get the memo that the Chiefs will win tonight before I made my SB picks?

Comment 4, posted at 21.04.12 08:21:50 by JarsonX

@JarsonX (Comment 4) : Fell into the age old trap hey?
We spend all saturday and sunday bemoaning the fact that our team ” lacks intensity, makes silly mistakes, just aren`t where they`re supposed to be etc . . . ”
but come Wednesday or Thursday we start talking up the lads.
” Not a bad team Plum selected there . .. That mid-field have so much potential, We`re due to have a big one ”

Inevitable SB calls are made with the heart when it comes to the Sharks and suddenly BAM! Reality is a 55 % win ratio for you on SB!

@Greg (Comment 12) : If these guys played their hearts out and lost I’d have no issues. The thing is they DON’T play their hearts out.

Just 1 example, being beaten by a player on a sidestep or dummy I can forgive, actually it doesn’t even need forgiving, because the guy was beaten by a better man, but at the end of a game when you need to tighten things up to then let a player run at you, you get a hand on him comfortably but he still gets past without even needing to hand you off???? My tap has more heart than that.

A 2nd example is repeated “mistakes” by some players. Learn from your mistake the 1st time around, don’t let your flab pull you down onto a ruck next time you join one.

I still support the Sharks and always will, but should I lie to myself and say “we are going to win today” when I don’t believe we are?

Our biggest worry today is the ref. He is a kiwi so hoping he blows a fair game.

Comment 18, posted at 21.04.12 14:04:36 by Puma

Go SHARKS

Comment 19, posted at 21.04.12 14:13:06 by juba_fan

I agree 100% with KSA’s posts. We as fans are still and will always be behind our team, the difference being at this stage we are hoping for a win instead of expecting one.

The Sharks may win today, but it will not mean our concerns about the team has been put to rest.

Being a true supporter I want my team to be at their best at all times. Of course if it does not turn out to be the case, I grumble and keep on supporting.

The flip side of the coin is that if a team want true supporters, they should repay those loyal fans by giving their all.

Now go and destroy the Chiefs Sharkies, make “Injuns” outta them!

Comment 20, posted at 21.04.12 14:32:57 by Silver Fox

@Silver Fox (Comment 20) : having issues with the way your team is playing is one thing mate, but giving them no chance whatsoever (zip, zero, nada!) to win at home is another entirely! quite shocked to see that on a supporters blog in fact
I’m off to the Shark tank now anyway… Sharks forever!